A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 15 eBook

Their language is far from being harsh or disagreeable,
though the pronunciation is frequently guttural; and
whatever qualities are requisite in any other language
to make it musical, certainly obtain to a considerable
degree here, if we may judge from the melody of some
sorts of their songs. It is also sufficiently
comprehensive, though, in many respects, deficient,
if compared with our European languages, which owe
their perfection to long improvement. But a small
specimen is here subjoined, from which some judgment
may be formed. I collected a great many of their
words, both now and in the course of our former voyage;
and being equally attentive, in my enquiries, about
the languages of the other islands throughout the
South Sea, I have the amplest proof of their wonderful
agreement, or rather identity. This general observation
has, indeed, been already made in the accounts of the
former voyages. I shall be enabled, however,
to confirm and strengthen it, by a fresh list of words,
selected from a large vocabulary in my possession;
and by placing, in the opposite column, the corresponding
words as used at Otaheite, the curious reader will,
at one view, be furnished with sufficient materials
for judging by what subordinate changes the difference
of dialect has been effected.